Giovanni Stefano Ferrero

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Giovanni Stefano Ferrero
Coat of arms of Cardinal Gianstefano Ferrero

Giovanni Stefano Ferrero (1474–1510) (called the Cardinal of Bologna) was an Italian Roman Catholic bishop and cardinal.

Biography[edit]

Giovanni Stefano Ferrero was born in Biella on 5 May 1474, the son of Sebastiano Ferrero and Tomena Avogadro.[1] The Ferrero family was allied with the Acciaioli family, one of the most prominent families in the Republic of Florence.[1] Gianstefano Ferrero's younger brother Bonifacio Ferrero also became a cardinal.[1]

Ferrero studied canon law at the University of Padua.[1] He then moved to Rome and became an Auditor of the Roman Rota.[1] He next became a protonotary apostolic.[1]

At the insistence of Blanche of Montferrat (regent for her son Charles II, Duke of Savoy), Ferrero was named coadjutor bishop of Vercelli on 24 April 1493.[1] He succeeded as Bishop of Vercelli on 16 July 1499, occupying the see until 21 January 1502.[1] He occupied the see again from 31 October 1503 until 5 November 1509, when he exchanged it with his brother Bonifacio Ferrero.[1]

Pope Alexander VI made him a cardinal priest in pectore in the consistory of 28 September 1500.[1] He was transferred to the see of Bologna on 24 January 1502; he occupied this see until his death.[1] His creation as cardinal was published on 28 June 1502 and the same day he received the red hat and the titular church of San Vitale.[1]

He participated in both the papal conclave of September 1503 that elected Pope Pius III and the papal conclave of October 1503 that elected Pope Julius II.[1]

On 22 December 1505 he exchanged his titulus for Santi Sergio e Bacco, a deaconry raised pro illa vice to the status of titulus.[1]

He was Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals from January 1506 until 1507.[1]

On 5 November 1509 he exchanged his bishopric with his brother Bonifacio, becoming apostolic administrator of the see of Ivrea; he subsequently occupied this see until his death.[1]

He died in Rome on 5 October 1510.[1] He was initially buried in the Basilica di San Clemente.[1] His remains were later transferred to Biella and buried in the church of San Sebastiano, a church of the Canons Regular of the Lateran.[1]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Miranda, Salvador. "FERRERO, Gianstefano (1474-1510)". The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church. Florida International University. OCLC 53276621.
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Camerlengo of the Sacred College of Cardinals
1506
Succeeded by
Unknown